Musical Legacy
My family’s rich musical tapestry is the canvas on which my passion for music was painted. My grandfather, revered as a master musician or “Kitharia,” composed captivating Meru folk songs. My father, too, contributed to our musical heritage as a skilled traditional singer and dancer. But the soulful African Christian songs sung by my late mother during her daily chores, served as the melodic backdrop of my early life and sparked my love for music.
My musical influences extended beyond my home. At school, the morning assembly singing sessions and the mesmerizing performances by the local Catholic church choir resonated with me deeply. These experiences served as a catalyst, fanning the embers of my musical passion into a full-blown creative flame.
My fascination with the local church choir led me to assemble my own band of singers. My friends and I would gather after school, and together, we would imitate the harmonious performances of the choir, staging our own little rehearsals.
My Initial Foray into Audio Recording
As I matured, my creative energies found an outlet in composing short songs. To preserve these fledgling compositions, I ventured into audio recording with a tape cassette and a radio cassette player borrowed from my father. My melodies finally had a resting place, even if it was limited by batteries’ lifespan.
However, my musical journey suffered a setback when my cassette tape, filled with carefully recorded songs, was stolen. This event, although disheartening, spurred me to acquire a crucial skill: the art of music transcription. I immersed myself in learning music theory to accurately capture my musical ideas in written form, ensuring that no future compositions would be lost.
Stepping into the Digital Age
In the wake of the stolen cassette incident, the advent of smartphones in East Africa brought a new hope. I purchased an Alcatel phone, and with its superior audio recording capability, my melodies found a new home. This marked a significant improvement in sound quality, making my musical ideas sound more vibrant than ever.
With an expanding collection of songs, the need for refinement became evident. This need led me to the Audacity software, my maiden voyage into the realm of audio editing. Online tutorials served as my compass, guiding me through the intricacies of the software, enhancing my music, and igniting an even deeper interest in audio recording.
The landmark acquisition of the Yeti-X USB microphone, followed by a switch to the more sophisticated Reaper DAW, revolutionized my audio recording journey. The superior sound quality fueled my obsession with perfecting audio recording. I found myself devouring books on audio, investing in tutorials, and constantly exploring new techniques on YouTube.
The Home Studio
From a simple USB microphone, my audio recording setup evolved into a basic but professional home studio, complete with multiple XLR microphones, audio interfaces, a MIDI keyboard, and monitor speakers.
Today, I stand proud, having recorded a church choir and two individual artists whose music is making waves. I’m currently working on a personal audio music project and the future indeed looks promising. What started as a hobby has now become a burning passion, as I continue to create and share my own brand of musical magic. Through this blog, I look forward to sharing the tips and tricks I’ve learned along my journey, hoping to inspire you to embark on your own adventure in audio recording.
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